The Tea party Message
Posted on 11/04/2010 12:00:38 AM PDT by stevelackner
Reuters reports that "exuberant Republicans vowed on Wednesday to exercise their new power in Congress to roll back some of President Barack Obama's key accomplishments, but a somber Obama said voters wanted both parties to work harder to find common ground."
"It's pretty clear the American people want a smaller, less costly and more accountable government," Republican John Boehner, in line to become the next House of Representatives speaker, told reporters. "Our pledge is to listen to the American people."
It is an unfortunate truth that we all remember, however, that the Republican party had abandoned its own principles prior to the 2008 election on many domestic issues surrounding limited government. Prior to Obama, the largest expansion of government since LBJ's great society came with the prescription drug benefit for seniors passed by a Republican President and Congress (McCain, who was the Republican nominee in 2008 actually voted against this, by the way). But the Republicans were certainly not rewarded for being the "Democrat-lite" party in 2008. The Republicans lost the White House, the House, and the Senate.
After that loss the Democratic party controlled all of Washington. For a substantial period of time the only thing holding Democrats back from doing anything they pleased were Democratic politicians from more conservative districts. Before the election of Republican Scott Brown to Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts the Democrat even had a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. And what did the Democrats do when they took complete control of DC? More bailouts, turning GM into Government Motors, and of course a failed stimulus pork bill. The Democrats promised unemployment would not rise above eight percent if the stimulus were passed, but it continued to climb despite his promise. So when Scott Brown was elected (and there were of course other great victories such as Chris Christie in New Jersey, but Scott Brown was undoubtedly the most symbolic and sent the strongest message) did the Democrats get the message and assume a more humble position and work toward a more centrist agenda? Of course not, they ignored those elections completely. They then proceeded to shove Obamacare down the throats of the American people despite clear and unambiguous opposition. It was a cash-for-clunkers style government that had taken control. Three billion dollars has been added to the national debt in under two years. This is an unprecedented amount of debt in a record amount of time that makes Bush look like Barry Goldwater when it comes to limited government. The positive news was that the Republicans after their 2008 loss seemed to be getting the message. They solidly opposed an unprecedented Obama agenda of expanding government at an astonishing rate. As but a few examples, not a single Republican in the House voted for the stimulus bill. Not a single Republican in the Senate voted to hike the debt ceiling when this vote came up. The House voted 219 to 212 to approve Obamacare in March 2010, with every Republican voting no. Not only does this demonstrate that Republicans were returning to core principles, but that the Obama agenda was a far turn to the left.
The Tea Party arose out of the ashes of all this unprecedented government expansion and arrogance, and made sure real conservatives got on the ballot in 2010 as Republican candidates. The people were finally given a real choice. And despite some losses that might have been won if the Tea Party candidates had not won some primaries, such as Christine O'Donnell in Delaware and perhaps Sharron Angle in Nevada, the influence of the Tea Party has been only positive (and in fact impressive Tea Party backed candidates like Marco Rubio are indeed headed to the Senate after defeating a Republican governor and then winning a three-way race). There is something much more important than a couple more Senate seats which in the larger scheme of things, which unless you are a party man first and and ideas man second makes little difference. Those seats would not have resulted in a Republican Senate majority in the Senate anyway. The Republicans now have a solid and unbreakable Senate filibuster if they decide to use it with a pickup of at least six Senate seats. Even if Angle and O'Donnell had won, that reality would be no different today. What the Tea Party did accomplish is send a message primarily to the Republican party. That message was that insofar as you abandon your principles, we the people will make you pay the price come election time. That message is far more valuable than a victory in largely Democratic Delaware.
Having previously mentioned Barry Goldwater, the Republicans must take a page out of his playbook. Now is the time to send the message that the Republican party will remain loyal to its ideals. To provide the American people with a true contrast, a real representation between the competing political ideologies in our society today, between the Obama agenda and a conservative opposition that actually controls a branch of the federal government. Now is the opportunity for conservatism to continue its comeback in the Republican party and provide a true choice for the 2012 election. Now is the time to maintain the principles that have made America great, the principles of individualism, limited government, personal responsibility, peace through strength, and faithfulness to the Constitution.
The Democrat victory of 2008 gave Republicans in Washington an opportunity to look back and learn important lessons. The Republican victory in 2010 affords all Republicans the opportunity to make sure they learn from Barry Goldwater's announcement of his candidacy in 1964. If they follow his words, the White House will be in the hands of a conservative in 2012. If they follow through in repealing and replacing Obamacare in the House, if only to send a message that Republicans really mean business, and continue on that sort of course over the next two years, they will be setting the stage for making Obama a one-term President. I think Barry Goldwater's words should give everyone a sense of the message Republicans should be sending to America as they set America's course straight in the House of Representatives in the next two years and provide a counterbalance to the Obama White House's turning of America to the left.
These are the words of Barry Goldwater that every Republican in Congress, be they newly elected, incumbent victors, or those that did not face an election challenge in this midterm at all, should memorize, and if they stick to these words they will see the fruits of a true conservative revolution:
"One of the great attributes of our American two party system has always been the reflected differences in principle. As a general rule one party has emphasized individual liberty and the other has favored the extension of government power. I’m convinced that today a majority in the Republican Party believes in the essential emphasis on individual liberty... I was once asked what kind of Republican I was. I replied that I was not a 'me-too' Republican. That still holds. I will not change my beliefs to win votes. I will offer a choice, not an echo. This will not be an engagement of personalities. It will be in engagement of principles. I’ve always stood for government that is limited and balanced and against the ever increasing concentrations of authority in Washington. I’ve always stood for individual responsibility and against regimentation. I believe we must now make a choice in this land and not continue drifting endlessly down and down for a time when all of us, our lives, our property, our hopes, and even our prayers will become just cogs in a vast government machine. I believe that we can win victory for freedom both at home and abroad. I believe that we can be strong enough and determined enough to win those victories without war. I believe that appeasement and weakness can only bring war. I’ve asked and will continue to ask: Why Not Victory–why not victory for sound, constitutional principles and government–why not victory over the evils of communism?"
Simply substitute "communism" with today's evil and enemy, namely radical Islamic jihadism, and not one other word need change. It is now our chance to work to make sure that this remains the message of today's Republican party. Those Republican politicians that are now in Washington must follow Goldwater's words to the letter, or else face the ruin they will deserve. There is no need for two liberal parties, as one liberal party lead by Obama, Reid, and Pelosi is more than enough.
Republicans, please remember, "A choice, not an echo." America depends on it.
This should be true whether they are talking about repealing Obamacare, allowing for privatizing of retirement plans, cutting taxes, balancing the budget, stimulating job growth, you name it.
Then these Democratic programs can be exposed for the Authoritarian Marxist abominations that they are; Social Engineering which, whether well-meaning or not, has served only to create economic dependence, waste, decay, and loss of Liberty, Opportunity and Quality of Life.
REVERSE COURSE!!!
Willya’ look at that! Mr. “I won” wants to “work together”!
Time to deliver or in 5 years there will no longer be a a GOP.
Lower energy costs alone just might be the key to snapping us out of the Sorospuppet Depression.
Thanks for the ping.
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